Instant on: New GE bulb combines halogen, CFL in incandescent format

Love the efficiency of CFLs but hate waiting for them to brighten up when you flip the switch?Then you will appreciate that the lighting division of GE has designed a hybrid lightbulb that combines the brightness of halogen lighting with the energy-efficiency principles of compact fluorescent technology in the familiar incandescent format.

Love the efficiency of CFLs but hate waiting for them to brighten up when you flip the switch?

Then you will appreciate that the lighting division of GE has designed a hybrid lightbulb that combines the brightness of halogen lighting with the energy-efficiency principles of compact fluorescent technology in the familiar incandescent format. The product, which is called the Energy Smart Soft White and Reveal, is part of the company's Earth Day publicity splash, which is when it will hit store shelves. The product will carry a retail price of anywhere from $5.99 to $9.99, the company figures.

Said Kristin Gibbs, general manager of consumer marketing for GE Lighting:

"It looks like an incandescent in size and shape, but it's really three bulbs in one. The instant brightness factor makes our new hybrid halogen-CFL more versatile than other CFLs. It's an optimal choice for use in hallways, stairways, kitchens, bathrooms and anywhere immediate brightness is essential."

The new bulbs will still offer up to 8 times the light span of their incandescent cousins (which is 8,000 hours versus 1,000 hours). They will replace standard 60-watt and 75-watt incandescent bulbs.

Even if the anti-everything-environmental element currently presiding over Washington succeeds in thwarting the federal lighting efficiency standards that would start phasing out 100-watt incandescent bulbs in 2012 (with other wattages to follow), this sounds like a pretty cool product and one that I can appreciate after using CFLs in my kitchen for a few months. Note to self.